Those familiar with IPTV will be aware of what catch-up TV is and how to stream it. For beginners, catch-up TV is a special feature used by most IPTV service providers nowadays. It allows users to access all the video content they missed in the live stream. This is one of the added advantages of using IPTVs. Here is detailed information about what is TV catch-up and the difference between video on demand and this feature.
What is Catch-Up TV?
Catch-Up TV is a special platform that broadcasts Television programs that have been live-streamed already. The content streamed on television previously became the catch-up material. So that users can easily watch the shows that they missed and stream at a time convenient to them. You can access the catch-up TV only with a stable internet connection on your device.
What are the Advantages of Catch-Up TV?
- You don’t need to sit for a live show at a particular time, which means you can watch the shows whenever you wish.
- With catch-up, you can pause, rewind, and fast-forward the content at your convenience, which is not possible with live broadcasting.
- It lets users skip the non-targeted ads that would interrupt their streaming of certain shows.
Where to Stream TV Catch-Up?
You can access the catchup TV in two places based on the service or channel that uses this feature. If the service is associated with an OTT platform, then you can access the catch-ups on the particular platform. However, some services have their streaming platform so that you can directly access it on your streaming devices.
STB (Set-Top Box): If your service provider gives you a set-top box, then you can use it to stream the missed shows on your Smart TV. In this case, you don’t require a cable port or an OTT streaming service to access the TV shows.
Streaming Platform: As mentioned earlier, if the service has a streaming platform, you can use it to stream the TV catchup anywhere and at any time with an internet connection on your streaming device.
How to Stream TV Catch-Up?
If the OTT platforms and IPTV services support the TV Catch-Up, then you can use the procedure below to watch it on your streaming device.
- Launch the OTT or IPTV app and the streaming website of the service on your device.
- Search and locate the TV shows you want to watch in the catch-up section.
- Go through the past schedule to select the correct episode.
- Now, stream the selected shows on your streaming device.
Popular Channels and It’s Catch-Up Platforms
Here are some of the popular TV channels and their catch-up platforms of those channels.
| Channel Name | Platform |
|---|---|
| BBC | BBC iPlayer |
| ITV | ITV Hub |
| Channel 4 and E4 | ALL4 |
| Channel 5, 5 USA, 5 Star, and Milkshake | My5 |
| Sky channels | Sky Go |
| CBS, Comedy Central, MTV | Paramount Plus |
TV Set-Top Boxes to Watch TV Catch-Up
TV catch-ups are also available on TV set-top boxes. Below are the best TV set-top boxes.
Freesat: The Freesat boxes let you watch catch-ups from popular broadcasters like ITV and BBC.
YouView: It offers catch-ups from the ITV, BBC, Channel 4, Channels 5, and radio channels. This set-top box is available as a part of a broadband bundle from Plusnet, TalkTalk, and BT.
Virgin Media: This set-top box provides catch-ups of BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5. If you wish, you can add any of your favorite premium channels to your package.
What is the Difference Between Catch-Up TV and On-Demand TV?
Many people wonder whether Catch-up TV and VOD are the same or different. But the answer is No. Video On Demand is a media library with the latest movies, series, and TV shows. Using it, you can stream your favorite content without any schedule. Here are the major differences between catch-up TV and VOD.
| Catch Up TV | VOD TV |
|---|---|
| Lets users access the content that is streamed before. | VOD is content that has not been aired on live TV previously. |
| It has a time limit to access the shows in the TV catch-up section. | It can be accessed at any time. The only requirement is a subscription and a strong internet connection on your device. |
| It is accessible on the website, app, and streaming device. | It is accessible through the app, website, Smart TV, and a digital box. |
| This is available on IPTV services like Sky Go, ITV, and BBC iPlayer. | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney Plus contain VOD. |
FAQ
Xtreme HD IPTV, Dragon IPTV, and Apollo IPTV are the best IPTV service providers with TV catch-up.
Yes, catch-up TV is free to access on Sky.
Netflix is an on-demand service.
Yes, you can use the Freeview Play app to watch catch-up TV on your Smart TV.
You can access it on any device, including Smartphones, Smart TVs, and Gaming Consoles.
